Restoration is complete on the historic, Moorish-style Rumbach street synagogue in Budapest. The project entails the conversion of the synagogue and its entire building complex into a multi-purpose arts, culture, prayer, and education center, and work is still going on in some parts of the building. The 3.2 billion Forint (€10 million) costs are fully funded by the Hungarian state.
The Rumbach won’t open to the public until next spring, so we invite you to enjoy here a sneak peek of the restored sanctuary — and watch our video showing the retractable Bimah being raised into place.
The video takes more than 5 minutes — but it’s worth it!
The synagogue, dating from 1872 and an early work by the noted Vienna architect Otto Wagner, had long stood in a semi-derelict state following partial reconstruction in the late 1980s/early 1990s that was left unfinished for lack of funds.
We wrote just one year ago about the Rumbach project, giving a progress report on the work to date.
As last year, JHE Director Ruth Ellen Gruber was given a tour this week of the building by Henriett Kiss, who has overseen the restoration project for the Hungarian Jewish umbrella organization MAZSIHISZ.
Kiss will serve as director of the Rumbach complex once it’s in operation.
The interior work entailed a complete rebuilding and/or replacement of both structural and decorative elements in the richly ornate, octagonal sanctuary.
These included the chaneliers, wall paintings and wood-paneled ceiling, and also a total rebuilding of the destroyed ark in its original place, using plaster, glass, and gold.
Kiss pointed out a particularly valuable element — the intricate mosaic floor in front of the ark, which was ordered removed during the failed reconstruction in the late 1980s.
It was privately preserved, however, by one of the workers, who –now in his 80s — brought it back to be restored and reinstalled during the current work.
“Everyone gave their heart to this work,” Kiss said, referring to the people who carried out the restoration. “Everyone was aware of the importance of this heritage. It was a once in a lifetime process.”
The sanctuary will be used for concerts and other events — but the moveable Bimah, which conserves original decorative elements, will enable it to be used for religious services.
A permanent exhibition to be installed in an upstairs gallery will tell the story of Hungarian Jews through the story of one extended family — the Pulitzers (Politzers).
Other components of the complex will include a 40-seat conference hall and a large (kosher) cafe that will hark back to the Jewish cafe society of Budapest and will include interactive features that allow guests to learn about various aspects of Jewish life.
Kiss said the synagogue itself and other facilities are planned to open in May 2020, with the permanent exhibition opening later next year.
Here below are some more pictures of the restored sanctuary as it is today. (Click here to see how it was a year ago.)
